I was in a tree that my Dad has hunted in year after year. The kind of magical tree that you might find at the center of A.A. Milne's 100 acre wood. When he first found it he would ascend the tree's various knots and branches like a spiral staircase before arriving at that place several hundred years in the making. That was along time ago. Now he prefers the ladder. When I was first given permission to hunt in the tree I felt I was being tossed the keys for the first time. It was his spot, after all. In hindsight he must have been proud of me too. Perhaps he was successfully turning a skinny punk into a man, the way things begrudgingly give way to the hammer of the blacksmith.
Although I was beneath the canopy of the big tree the sun was low in the sky, and hot. At least there were no mosquitos. It's not uncommon for an owl to sit in the branches above. Two hunters sharing a tree. As we're close to our hay barn they probably do very well here.
The stirring of leaves directed my attention to an old raccoon that looked as if he'd spent the evening in a gas lamp era tavern. One eye was white, blind, and adequately compensated for with disdain for the forest's co-inhabitants. Occasionally an acorn would fall onto the tin roof of the barn like a dull snare, then begin its oblong descent to the edge; tiny base jumpers leaping from the precipice.
This was my first evening hunt here at our little home place. I thought I might see pigs, who are in my opinion the "Cousin Eddie" of an otherwise nice deer hunt. September trail cam photos provided countless Megabytes of pig-occupied pictures, and should they arrive I would roll with the punches. Rather than my beautiful wooden arrows I had a quiver full of old Gold Tips for just such a menace.
Finally there were deer. My hunting through October was primarily in Kimble County. That place sits on the threshold of the American desert that spans from Texas to California. I've been looking at pitifully thin deer, subjects of a hard summer. These, however, were plump and sassy does. They reminded me of FFA pigs that were never weaned off the automatic feeder. Beautiful blue does, like strutting yard hens.
Amused with the sewing circle I failed to notice the buck at all. He was before me instantly like an image on a slide-show. How do deer move through leaves without a sound? Perhaps the belligerent Raccoon was an alibi. He was making enough racket to conceal the other goings on; a brains and brawn type of arrangement. While not a giant antlered buck, he was as big a deer as I have seen on the hoof. His belly swung low making his legs appear too short further confounding how he snuck up on me, but he was here no more than 8 yards.
His time in front of me was as brief as a subliminal message. My arrow slipped between ribs and lay still where the buck had paused seconds ago. The shot looked beautiful. The arrow looked merely ok. He tore threw the brush due west the way a bottle rocket climbs into the dark. It was six o'clock, and everything was still. My Dad buried his dog earlier this spring. I wished he was at the truck to help find this one, instead there were three good flashlights. Two doves flew low overhead displaced by the fleeing buck. The sky was an odd pale color and looked as if it would shatter if I threw a rock. I waited a very long time. It was six twenty...
About a dozen young pigs emerged from the dark on the trail where my buck had left. Terrific. These juvenile miscreants would undoubtedly render a real mess of my blood trail, at least the beginnings of it. If I had any shooting light at all I would have attempted to turn one of these guys into tamales for Christmas. I had good reference of where I had last seen the deer, and that would turn out to be where I picked up the trail.
It was faint, but it was there. Occasionally intermittent. Running as he was 100 yards would be covered in seconds. Usain Bolt would look like a nerd tripping over his laces next to this deer. I welcomed the spots on the cactus, those I could see several feet ahead. It was also better to be in the thick brush, where blood was rubbing on to things. The challenge was in the open clearings where the grass was dry and low. Standing and looking down was not so good, but to get low and look through the grass was more effective. You could see the trail as it was dispersed at a dead run. Having two more flashlights in my pocket was comforting. Would the second string flashlight be ready when it was his time? That hasn't worked out too well for the Cowboys in Romo's absence, but I had faith in my backups.
Progress was steady enough to keep doubt at bay. After calling my wife to let her know I had shot an hour had passed prior to tracking. I didn't think I was pushing this deer. I texted my wife Jill to let her know things were still ok, and resumed the task at hand. Shortly thereafter I found my buck. He was up under the low hanging branches of a cedar tree as if he was seeking an improvised shelter for the night. An answered prayer. It was eight forty-five. After a jumping fist pump that might still enlist the services of a physical therapist I sent Jill this picture...
(http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u532/chase_el_p/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_4899.jpg) (http://s1320.photobucket.com/user/chase_el_p/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_4899.jpg.html)
A few more...
(http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u532/chase_el_p/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1054.jpeg) (http://s1320.photobucket.com/user/chase_el_p/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1054.jpeg.html)
(http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u532/chase_el_p/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1041.jpeg) (http://s1320.photobucket.com/user/chase_el_p/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1041.jpeg.html)
Awesome buck, Chase!
And GREAT write up. You sir, have talent with the pen (or in this case, keypad)!
Congrats,
Bisch
Atta way to smoke him hoss!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Nice Buck
Nice buck..congrats!
And I agree with Bisch...u most definatly have a talent with words....felt like I was right there with u.
Nice buck! I also enjoyed your story telling abilities, it felt just like I was there with you.
Great buck , Congrats sir...
,,,Sam,,,
Great buck, congrats! Love that first picture!
Nice...... :thumbsup:
CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!!!!! Great Story!!!
Thank You, for sharing!!!
Thanks for taking us along. I am likewise impressed with your writing. Dying art form by and large.
Very nice!
Nice!!! Congrats!!
Congrats! Nice buck!
Very Nice!
Way to go, Chase! Artful description of a special evening.
Congrats,
Jed
Looks like you did real good!
Thanks for taking us along!
God bless,
Rodd
Looks like you did real good!
Thanks for taking us along!
God bless,
Rodd
QuoteThat hasn't worked out too well for the Cowboys in Romo's absence,
That's funny :biglaugh:
Thanks for sharing and congratulations.
Good job young man on a fine buck.
Chase, a very fine story and buck :thumbsup:
Thanks for taking us with you.
Congrats. well told recap as well.
You have a gift for written words. Congratulations on a fine buck and really nice pictures! Well done! :clapper:
Bernie
Wow, I wasn't ready for it to end, You Sir have a gift :thumbsup:
Well done Brother!
:thumbsup:
Really well done, Chase. All the way around. Pretty deer.
Congratulations!
That is a nice buck, but I enjoyed your well written tale much more than the photos. Congrats!
Very nice buck, congrats!
Beauty!
Nice buck and great story ! A very special deer indeed
Awesome!!!! Congrats to you Sir, good shooting! :thumbsup:
Great deer congrats
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
A story... and a story well told! Tying the past to the present is always a special way to tell a present day story. Congrats on a fine buck!
Wonderful Story! Congrats brother on a job well done!
You my friend are an artist in the purest sense. I was hanging on every word. I felt as if I was on one of those branches with you watching all of it unfold. Tremendous story and a great buck. Congratulations!
Congrats, thanks for sharing such a great story. That could have been published in traditional bow hunting magazine very well written.
Congrats on a fine buck.
Thanks for sharing a well written tale.. :thumbsup:
Nice buck and excellent story!
Gabe
Beautiful buck and a well told story! Thanks for taking us along on your hunt.
Great buck and story. You've inspired me to wax poetic in my post if I should manage a buck this year. I went back and read some of your older posts. Beautiful. Well done sir..
Great the way you told the story, and nice buck too!
Great job Brother!
a beautiful buck my friend! I really enjoyed your writing as well
Great looking Buck Chase! Great write up as always. Congrats!!
Nice story and buck, congrats!
Thank you so much, everyone, for the kind words. Be safe out there.
Best Regards.
Congrats!
Well done brother I'll be back hunting in Texas after the first
Congratulations on a fine buck and thank you for a wonderfully written story.
A tale well told. Nice buck, too.
Thanks for sharing.
A great buck and a tale well told!
:thumbsup:
Awesome animal and story! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Very nice buck... way to go.
Congrats to you. Nice buck! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
That deer reminds me of the one that I saw last Friday evening.
I enjoyed your story and congrats on taking and finding the buck.
Very nice! Congrats!
Congratulations! Great story telling.
:archer:
NICE! great story, (poor Cassel :help: )